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What Are Those Ugly Lines On My Fingernails?

As I’ve gotten older, those vertical ridges on my nails seem to be getting more and more prominent. I really noticed those ugly lines recently in the pictures on my pumpkin cheesecake dip recipe where my thumb is on full display holding a Nilla wafer. That’s when I decided to do some research to see if those ridges meant anything about my health, and if there was anything I could do to get rid of them.

What They Mean About Your Health

After a lot of research, I did find that there is a small, rare possibility that those ridges can mean an underlying medical condition or possibly even nail trauma, but for most of us, it’s completely normal as we age to see them getting more noticeable. I’m 36, and they’ve only recently started bothering me, but I’m relieved to find that they are harmless. I’m just getting old. : )

But Why Are They There?

As we age, the nail matrix gradually starts to lose it’s effectiveness in some areas, causing your nails to grow out uneven, resulting in what we see as lines or ridges that run from the cuticle all the way up to the tip of the nail. They’re basically like wrinkles of the nails.

How To Lessen The Appearance Of Vertical Ridges On Your Nails

The best way to help lessen the appearance of those lines in the first place is to make sure you are moisturizing your hands and fingers throughout the day with a thick cream, oil or petroleum jelly, paying special attention to your cuticles. Basically, treat your nails like you would your wrinkles!

Also, I may sound like I’ve been living under a rock or something, but I didn’t realize you could buff and polish them with a simple $8 tool that makes them smooth and shiny, almost as if you’re wearing clear nail polish. I found this shape and shine tool on Amazon, and now I feel like I have a brand new set of hands! That is the quickest solution, just be sure not to get carried away with all that buffing and sanding, especially if you have thin nails.I did a lot of research to find the best tool, and this one has really good reviews so I thought I’d give it a shot. I really don’t even recognize my nails anymore! They’re completely smooth and shiny, and they stay that way for weeks.